Mansfield 2 Lincoln 1: Stags scrape through to set up glamour tie with Liverpool

Louis Briscoe's late winner earned the Stags a bumper pay-day and a dream meeting with Premier League aristocrats Liverpool in Round Three.

The wide midfielder produced a neat finish to settle this replay 13 minutes from time as the Stags edged their way past Blue Square Premier rivals Lincoln City to set-up a classic tie against the five-time European Champions.

Briscoe sidefooted home after midfielder Anthony Howell had intelligently fed the ball into his path to leave home boss Paul Cox around £200,000 better off.

Big win: Mansfield celebrate victory over Lincoln in the FA Cup and will now face Liverpool

The FA Cup always throws up those ironies. And Imps' boss David Holdsworth was the unfortunate victim of one here.

The
former Sheffield United defender, now in charge of the Imps, was at
Mansfield when he signed Briscoe. How that winner must have hurt as the
well-travelled non-leaguer enjoyed his moment in spotlight.

In so
doing, he earned Mansfield only their third clash against the Reds. The
last one, in the League Cup, was 41 years ago. The crowd at the One
Call Stadium, were in raptures at the final whistle as the prospect of
welcoming Brendan Rodgers to their corner of north Nottinghamshire
became a reality.

Mansfield had already banked one windfall.
Money from televising this replay was already in the bank. And
broadcasters ESPN ensured this game went ahead in sub-zero temperatures
by spending £77,000 on a giant balloon to stop the pitch from freezing.

The
hosts rose to the occasion early on and were given the lead in the 15th
minute. Chris Clements' free-kick was floated into the area and John
Dempster rose highest. The header did not carry much power but it looped
onto the woodwork and entere the net, having first struck keeper Paul
Farman.

Lincoln's keeper made stops either side of Adam Smith's
superbly-taken 40th-minute equaliser to keep his team in it. They were
given a huge filip when the former Mansfield man broke beyond the home
rearguard before supplying a class finish, lobbing home keeper Alan
Marriott.

Winner: Louis Briscoe fires home Mansfield's second goal against Lincoln and celebrates (below)

But as the game headed towards extra time, Briscoe
decided the tie with a neat finish to bring set up a tie with the
Merseysiders - albeit this time no doubt in front of a larger fireside
audience in the New Year.

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox said: 'I'm
delighted for everyone involved with the club, the chairman, fans but
most especially the players.

'We have had some tough matches
against Lincoln and this was no exception, made more difficult if that
was possible, because of what was at stake.

'I think we deserved it overall and now we have the prospect of welcoming Liverpool which is great for everyone.'